COMM Fall 2021 Career Forum
Register here for the Fall 2021 Communication Forum. Space is limited and registration is REQUIRED in order to attend.
Tuesday, October 26, 2021 9:00 AM to 12:30 PM EDT
Johnson Center, Third Floor, Meeting Room D
**RSVP REQUIRED**
Gain career advice and network with some of the nation's leading communication professionals. Sign up for small group mentoring sessions with public affairs specialists, media producers, journalists, health communicators, marketers, and more!
RSVP Now! Space is limited to 18 students per room, per round. Scroll down for the schedule, mentor and room information.
**When you arrive at the event, please go to the sign-in table in JC Room D (3rd floor) before joining any mentoring sessions.
**STUDENTS MUST COMPLETE THE MASON COVID-19 STATUS CHECK AND SHOW A GREEN APPROVAL EMAIL WHEN SIGNING IN**
**FACE MASKS ARE REQUIRED**
Click on the green registration (RSVP) button above to register for the Fall 2021 Communication Forum
FORUM SCHEDULE:
9:00 a.m. Doors open for registration check-in (JC Room D) & networking
9:30 a.m. Keynote interview featuring Mason COMM alumni Angie Goff & Marcella Robertson
10:00 a.m. Round one of the mentoring sessions begins
10:30 a.m. Round two of the mentoring sessions begins
11:00 a.m. Round three of the mentoring sessions begins
11:30 a.m. Round four of the mentoring sessions begins
12:00 p.m. Round five of the mentoring sessions begins
12:30 p.m. Event concludes
HOW THE FORUM WORKS:
Students must RSVP for the general event in advance, and must check-in at the registration table in JC Room D the day of the event. After checking-in, students will have the opportunity to select which mentoring session/s they wish to join during the scheduled rounds. Students who RSVP are welcome to come for one, two, three, four, or all five rounds!
MENTORS & LOCATIONS:
- Johnson Center, Meeting Room D: Welcome Room & Networking Space
- Students must stop by the Welcome & Networking Room to check in for the event and to choose which mentoring session they would like to attend. Students will also have the opportunity to network with members of the Insight Committee and the mentors.
- Johnson Center, Gold Room: Media Production Career Mentoring Session
- Mentor: Rob Hargreaves, Business Operations & Strategy, Discovery. Robert Hargreaves is the Director, Global Content Reporting and Analytics with Discovery Communications. Prior to joining Discovery he worked in corporate and digital strategy in London at the BBC and before that at PBS in Washington DC. He’s also worked as a Producer at ABC's Good Morning America and MSNBC's Hardball with Chris Matthews. He earned his B.A. in Communications from Cornell University and M.B.A. from Duke University's Fuqua School of Business. He serves as the Board Chair for Girls on the Run of Northern Virginia.
- Johnson Center Room B: Journalism Career Mentoring Session
- Mentor: Andrea Cambron is the Supervising Editor of NPR’s daily news show and podcast Morning Edition. Cambron has 15 years of experience working on deadline conceiving, developing and implementing major projects and new approaches to reporting and programming. Before joining NPR, Cambron was a reporter for WTOP News, where she developed and researched news stories, proposed and produced ideas for broadcast and for the website, and she wrote, edited and delivered news copy. Prior to WTOP, Cambron executive produced and hosted Enlighten Me, a weekly WERA program exploring politics, health, current events, the economy and race. Cambron was also a producer for multiple Sirius XM Radio Inc. news, politics and current events programs. As a producer, Cambron has covered everything from Occupy Wall Street to the White House. Her work hosting a segment on women’s issues on Sirius XM fueled her passion to dissect federal policy as it relates to equality, civil rights and our national health system. Cambron began her radio career in Decatur, Il. When a friend suggested she host a college radio show for fun. She holds a B.S. in Radio and Television from Howard University.
- Mentor: Andrea Cambron is the Supervising Editor of NPR’s daily news show and podcast Morning Edition. Cambron has 15 years of experience working on deadline conceiving, developing and implementing major projects and new approaches to reporting and programming. Before joining NPR, Cambron was a reporter for WTOP News, where she developed and researched news stories, proposed and produced ideas for broadcast and for the website, and she wrote, edited and delivered news copy. Prior to WTOP, Cambron executive produced and hosted Enlighten Me, a weekly WERA program exploring politics, health, current events, the economy and race. Cambron was also a producer for multiple Sirius XM Radio Inc. news, politics and current events programs. As a producer, Cambron has covered everything from Occupy Wall Street to the White House. Her work hosting a segment on women’s issues on Sirius XM fueled her passion to dissect federal policy as it relates to equality, civil rights and our national health system. Cambron began her radio career in Decatur, Il. When a friend suggested she host a college radio show for fun. She holds a B.S. in Radio and Television from Howard University.
- Johnson Center Room A: Public Relations Career Mentoring Session
- Mentor: David Fuscus is CEO and president of Xenophon Strategies, a highly focused public relations firm serving many of the world’s largest companies and organizations. Founded in 2000, Xenophon has key practices in public affairs, public relations, reputation management, crisis communications and government affairs. Prior to his tenure at Xenophon Strategies, Mr. Fuscus was Vice President of Communications for the airline industry’s trade association, the Air Transport Association. In this position, he was responsible for developing and implementing overall airline industry communications efforts, was a key political strategist for the ATA and served as the airline industry’s chief spokesperson. Mr. Fuscus also has enjoyed a successful career in politics. He was Deputy Chief of Staff to Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge where he served as a key political and media adviser to the governor. He was also the Deputy Director of Ridge’s first election campaign and transition committee. Prior to his tenure with Gov. Ridge, Mr. Fuscus spent nine years working in Congress as Director of Public Affairs for the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and as Deputy Chief of Staff and Press Secretary to Congressman William F. Clinger. Mr. Fuscus is heavily involved in crisis communications and has worked with the media on major national and international crises, including representing the airline industry following the 9/11 terrorist attacks and playing a key communications role in eleven major airline accidents. He has worked on thirteen major hurricanes that have hit the United States including Hurricane Katrina.
- Johnson Center Room C: Health Communication/Interpersonal Communication Career Mentoring Session
- Mentor: Kristen Dalton is a Senior Account Manager with Digital Health Strategies, which is a full-service digital agency based in Washington, D.C. that provides marketing and fundraising strategies for top healthcare organizations. Kristen has over four years of experience in healthcare marketing and digital communication. She specializes in using storytelling to break down complex, scientific concepts to various stakeholders. Prior to joining Digital Health Strategies, Kristen was an account executive for Spectrum Science and a Senior Account Manager for W20. Kristen is a Mason COMM alum! As an undergraduate, her concentration was Health Communication. She also earned her MA in Science Communication and a certificate in Professional, Technical, Business and Scientific Writing from GMU.
- Johnson Center Room E: Political Communication Career Mentoring Session
- Mentor: Patrick Delaney(B.A. Comm, 2007) is an IC member, Mason COMM alum and Director of External Affairs for U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry under Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow of Michigan. In his role he leads the communications, strategic messaging, and stakeholder engagement efforts of the Committee's work. Previously, Delaney was communications director for the U.S. House Committee on Agriculture under Chairman Collin Peterson of Minnesota. Prior to his service on Capitol Hill, Delaney spent 10 years in policy communications roles with the American Soybean Association and United Fresh Produce Association. He also has experience in political campaigns, agency and professional sports public relations, broadcasting, and fundraising. In addition to his Mason degree, Delaney has a master's degree in integrated marketing communications from West Virginia University. He lives in Maryland with his wife and daughters
- Mentor: Andy Karellas serves as the Executive Director of the State International Development Organizations (SIDO) and the Director of Federal and International Affairs at The Council of State Governments (CSG). Prior to joining CSG, Mr. Karellas served as a senior staffer with the House Small Business Committee, focusing on international trade and technology issues, and as deputy director of government affairs for Aon Corporation in Chicago. He also served as the special assistant to U.S. Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez. A native of Missouri, Mr. Karellas received his bachelor’s degree in international business from Webster University and his master’s degree in international commerce and policy from George Mason University
- Johnson Center Room F: Interviewing/Resume Building Workshop
- Mentor: Kate Perrin is the CEO of PRoffessional Solutions, LLC, a PR staffing company, the Washington DC area’s only public relations temporary staffing agency. Perrin founded PRofessional Solutions in 1994, and the company was named as one of the largest staffing agencies in the metro area in 2015 by the Washington Business Journal. Immediately prior to founding PRofessional Solutions, Ms. Perrin was director of public relations for The American College of Emergency Physicians, where she advanced public awareness of the specialty and developed health and safety public education campaigns. Previously, she had been director of public affairs at Youth for Understanding International promoting participation in high school international exchange. Perrin chaired the first Washington Women in Public Relations (WWPR) PR Woman of the Year awards program in 1990 and was elected president in 1992. She also spent four years on the Board of the International Association of Business Communicators, three years on the Board of Dress for Success DC, received the 2009 Women in Communications Matrix Award and has been a member of the Girl Scouts Nation’s Capital Women’s Advisory Board and part of the Smithsonian Women’s Committee leadership for almost four years. Ms. Perrin earned a BA in Print Journalism and MS in Public Relations from American University.
- Johnson Center Room G: Networking Workshop
- Mentor: Danny Selnick is a nationally recognized senior communications counselor, who built a successful career at two international commercial news wire services, and is best known for his gift as an industry connector for his willingness to help colleagues and new practitioners. Throughout his career, he has been dedicated to strategic marketing and communications efforts on behalf of his clients, including associations and nonprofits, advocacy groups, foundations, corporations, and government and political agencies, who focused on public policy and social change issues. Over decades, Selnick has provided pro bono support to numerous organizations, including the National Press Club, and currently leads the Communicators Team – one of the NPC’s most active committees – hosting a variety of professional development events to foster greater ties with working journalists. He's also a long-time member of the Club's Headliners Team, and also serves as one of three communicator members of NPC’s Board of Governors. Selnick was the 2020 Public Relations Society of American -- National Capital Chapter Hall of Fame Winner, a recipient of PRSA-NCC's Platinum and Senior Professionals awards, and is a recipient of several Vivian Awards from the National Press Club for outstanding service and leadership.
- Mentor: Anna Treszczotko is an Account Director, Public Relations at Sage Communications, where she designs and oversees media and social media strategies. Anna has 11 years of communications experience shaping national media coverage for a wide range of private, nonprofit and government clients. She is known for her ability to identify compelling, timely news angles and getting stories placed in top-tier outlets. Anna is an experienced writer and a meticulous editor with an in-depth understanding of print, digital and broadcast media. PR News recognized Anna as one of the 2019 Top Women in PR and a 2018 PR People finalist in the agency account manager of the year category. Before coming to Sage, Anna was a communications consultant working with clients such as the U.S. Conference of Mayors, Visit Knoxville, National Geographic and the Merchants Payment Coalition. Anna volunteers at The Women’s Center, a nonprofit providing mental health services to people in need, leveraging her communications skills to help the organization reach donors. She holds a B.A. in English from the University of Bialystok.
COVID-19 GUIDELINES:
- Guests must check-in at the "Welcome Room" in the Johnson Center Meeting Room D
- ALL attendee's will be required to complete the Mason Health Check survey: Mason COVID Check link
- ALL attendee's MUST show a completed Mason Health Check survey confirmation at the registration desks
- Masks are required
- Please oblige and follow all COVID-19 safety signs and precautions
- Space is limited
